Packers urged to sign former Pro Bowl QB after disaster start to training camp

The Green Bay Packers may have a serious issue at the quarterback position. Luckily, it has nothing to do with Jordan Love.

The Packers are being given a glimpse into what life would be like without Love, as the team's franchise quarterback has been "holding in" and not practicing while the details of his new contract get ironed out behind the scenes.

Since Love isn't practicing, young quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt -- a couple of day three draft picks for the Packers the last two years -- have been getting the majority of reps so far at training camp.

And it's going about as well as you might have predicted. As in -- it's not.

On the heels of OTAs and minicamp where Sean Clifford was throwing one interception after another comes an update out of Packers camp from Andy Herman, who reports a whopping five interceptions were thrown by the backup quarterbacks.

Having a competent backup quarterback situation is essential for the Packers. They flirted with disaster last year by going into the season with Clifford as the QB2 behind Love, but they were able to justify it (at least somewhat) because of the fact that it was an evaluation year. They weren't about to compromise his practice reps and they put all their chips in the middle of the table on one guy.

Packers backup QB situation for Jordan Love may require immediate attention

This year is a little different.

Let's say Love has to miss two games in November and the Packers are a game out of first place in the NFC North. Heaven forbid that this team trot out Sean Clifford for a major divisional matchup or a game that could impact the team's playoff and/or division title chances. It would be gross negligence on the part of general manager Brian Gutekunst.

It just so happens that a former Pro Bowl quarterback is sitting out there in free agency for the Packers to sign at their soonest convenience...

The Packers showed last season that they have the makings of a legitimate contender in the NFC. Heck, even USA Today is jumping on the bandwagon, predicting the Packers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year. Because the Packers are a viable contender, having an incompetent backup quarterback situation is inexcusable.

There's nothing wrong with the Packers opting to develop young players at the quarterback position, but they might need to keep three QBs on the active roster if that's what they want to do. It's still early in the offseason, but neither Sean Clifford nor Michael Pratt is capable to back up Jordan Love at any point this season.

Ryan Tannehill is what he is at this point, and wouldn't be exciting for a team looking for a full-time starter, but signing him now could save the Packers' season later if the need should arise.

And history tells us the need is likely to arise. Just last year, 67 different quarterbacks started games for NFL teams.

The Packers need to get Tannehill on the phone and get him into the facility as quickly as possible.

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